Binibining Pilipinas Myrna Esguerra had a rousing send-off at the Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City on Sunday morning, Nov. 9.
The gloomy weather aside, a festive atmosphere greeted pasengers and their loved ones not only because of the beauty queen’s hot pink ensemble, but also because of the marching band that came along.
Band members banging and blowing at their musical instruments lifted the spirits of the crowd, many of whom still sleepy, with the parade-like vibe that emanated at the departure entrance.
Esguerra is set to compete in the 63rd Miss International pageant in Japan, on a quest to record the Philippines’ seventh victory and sustain the country’s reputation as the best-performing Asian country in the global tilt.
The beauty queen is arriving in Japan three days earlier than the official arrival of delegates because she intends to meet the Filipino community there ahead of the competition.
Esguerra waved to the onlookers at the airport in a bustier-top using indigenous fabric with a hot pink sash draped on one side, matched with a pair of wide-legged hot pink trousers. A flowy scarf also graced her long neck to complete the look.
Before her departure, the beauty queen earned her Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pin after weeks of training and learning under sustainability consultant Dr. Maria Romina Gemini Brion Zabala and Dr. JC Chiong.
For the most recent editions, including this year’s, the Miss International pageant has been promoting the 17 SDGs, and the delegates are enccouraged to spearhead projects that align with the goals.
‘Receiving the SDG pin gave me a true sense of pride because in that moment, I felt like an official partner in helping shape our society for the better,’ Esguerra said.
‘It also comes with a little pressure, because I believe that wearing this pin carries a real responsibility. And from today forward, I am ready to bear that responsibility aligned with my purpose,’ she continued.
The Miss International 2025 final competition show will be held at the Yoyogi National Stadium’s Second Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 27. /edv